Rory Kleinveldt won’t be able to spearhead the Nashua Cape Cobras attack in the opening match of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge against The Unlimited Titans on Sunday at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium due to a groin strain.

“I suffered the injury when I set off for a quick single in the practice match at Newlands on Tuesday. Maybe I must stick to what I’m good at by clearing the ground (for sixes), and leave the quick singles to Onters (the fleet-footed Justin Ontong) and the boys,” chirped Kleinveldt. Kleinveldt is a top-class South African bowler and a dangerous lower-order batsman. His experience with the new ball and his ability to swing and seam it in the power play will be sorely missed. Charl Langeveldt, the Cobras bowling coach, said Lizaad Williams or Dane Paterson might be required to bowl in the death overs in tandem with Mthokozisi Shezi. More wickets in the power play, better fielding, clinical execution of half chances, and bigger totals are areas of improvement pursued by the Cobras, said Ontong, the Cobras captain. Asked about the role of Kieron Pollard, one of five West Indian players taking part in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge this season, Ontong emphasized the importance of making him feel right at home when he arrives in Johannesburg on Saturday. “He is a world-class player. We will probably require him to bowl his full quota of four overs, as he is a true all-rounder. I will also have to turn my arm over. Robbie P (Robin Peterson) is not available,” said Ontong. Asked about the threat posed by the Titans, Ontong said they are a dangerous outfit. “We owe them one and we have unfinished business,” he chirped. The Titans romped to an emphatic 6-wicket win against the Cobras in a Momentum One Day Cup match at SuperSport Park in Centurion last Friday. The bonus-point win obviously hurt, and Ontong is keen to atone for that loss. The Cobras spent some time at Newlands on Friday sharpening their fielding skills as Paul Adams, the coach, urged the fielders to attack the ball on the ground with pin-point throw-ins. Ontong wants the team to sharpen up and be clinical. “Sensing the critical moments and taking your chances when those moments arrive are important,” he said.

CAPE TOWN. – Their goal is to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 again, as they have some unfinished business in India, said Dane Vilas, middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper of the Nashua Cape Cobras.

Vilas has scored 1389 runs at an average of 34.72 and a strike-rate of 122.81 in domestic T20-cricket, a testimony to his skills and quality. Vilas spoke to the Cape Cobras-website on Thursday during training at the Bishops Indoor Centre. Asked about the success of the Cobras this season, Vilas said the team that finished at the summit of the Momentum One Day Cup competition after five matches, has been brilliant. Management has spoken about the need of the top-four or –five batsmen to bat through and to be greedy. Andrew Puttick has been inspirational and has set the tone for the team with his 394 runs. The least runs he scored in an innings was 55, said Vilas. Asked about criticism that the middle-order did not always build on the powerful early surges by the openers, Puttick and Richard Levi, Vilas said the squad boasts good experience between number five and number seven for the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge, which will start on Sunday at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium. He said collectively, he, Justin Ontong and Kieron Pollard have played many games in domestic T20-cricket. There is so much quality and depth in the Cobras batting line-up that if the openers and number-3 batsmen start well, the order can be changed and Ontong sent in, as he can blast from the start. He is also confident about the variety and depth in the bowling attack. Mthokozisi Shezi and Dane Paterson are good death bowlers, while the left-arm spin bowler GF Linde and the off-spinners SA Enbelbrecht and Ontong offer something different. Rory Kleinveldt is a South African opening bowler. Vilas said he has worked extensively with the coach Ryan Cook on attacking the consistent Yorkers in the death overs. He has also attempted to add variety to his attacking options, like sweeps, reverse sweeps and charging the new-ball bowlers with shots over the inner ring. On Thursday, Justin Kemp also participated. He had a four-week injury lay-off due to a wrist injury, but will represent WP Cricket Club against the University of Cape Town in a club game during the weekend. The West Indian acquisition Pollard will join his team-mates in Johannesburg on Saturday morning, said Clifford Dodgen, the team operational manager of the Cobras. Puttick said on Thursday his quad injury has reacted well to treatment and he will be available to represent the Cobras in the opening match of the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge against The Unlimited Titans at the Wanderers on Sunday.

The RAM SLAM T20 Challenge is Cricket South Africa’s Premier Domestic T20 competition. It’s played amongst the six Franchises and takes place from 02 November 2014 to 12 December 2014.

The Nashua Cape Cobras and Dolphins played in the final of the RAM Slam tournament in front of a packed Newlands Cricket Ground last season. The Cape Cobras lost by 2 runs only. Who will be this season’s finalists?? Remember FANgS, RAM Slam T20 finalists take part in the coveted Champions League T20 tournament in India – so it’s all to play for!!

Don’t miss the RAM Slam T20 action as Newlands Cricket Ground hosts the Nashua Cape Cobras’ first home match on 7 November against the Dolphins. This match will NOT be televised, so get to the stadium for live action. It’s a match not to be missed as it’s the clash of last season’s finalists!!

Western Cape Cricket urges FANgS to get their tickets early as RAM Slam T20 cricket is fast, furious cricket, so don’t miss an over or 2standing in queues on match days!!!! Ticket office times are as follows: Monday - Fridays, 09h00 - 16h00

Details of the Nashua Cape Cobras’ HOME RAM Slam T20 match is as follows:

• Internet: cricket.ticketpros.co.za• Newlands Cricket Ground ticket office (021-6572089 / 43) ; Boland Park (0218624580)• For a comprehensive list on Postnet outlets, please visit www.ticketpros.co.za Western Cape Cricket believes in giving back to our FANgS, so with this in mind, we’ve put together the following special offers, especially for you (while stock lasts and excludes semis/finals)·SPECIAL OFFER: BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE for seated domestic tickets only!! BIRTHDAY PROMO: If it’s your birthday in the month of a Cape Cobras’ domestic game at Boland Park or Newlands Cricket Ground, you qualify for 2 free tickets. - on presentation of your ID document, the ticket administrator, will give you 2 complimentary tickets at no cost. This offer excluding semis/finals/international games

EMAIL COMPETITION:Forward this email to 10 valid email addresses, copy marketing@wccricket.co.za in with #SummerChamps as your subject heading and stand a chance to win 10 tickets to the match on 7 November @NewlandsCricket vs the Dolphins FANgS have great activities to look forward to like the Glam Cam activation. If a fan gets spotted wearing red by the Supersport cameras, they can win great prizes from Samsung!As a first for the Ram Slam T20 Tournament AT TELEVISED GAMES ONLY, this year RAM is giving away one million Rand! The coveted million will be awarded to any attendee who catches a six with one hand! It’s that simple. Should there be more than one winner, the one million Rand prize will shared amongst them. This exciting competition will run from the 2nd of November, to the 13th of December. For all details on this incentive, go to www.cricket.co.za.OVERSEAS SIGNINGSChevrolet Knights – Andre RussellChevrolet Warriors – Craig KieswetterSunfoil Dolphins – Dwayne Bravobizhub Highveld Lions – Chris GayleNashua Cape Cobras – Kieron PollardThe Unlimited Titans – Darren SammyWe wish our Summer Champions everything of the best in their pursuit of successfully defending their title.

With just 3 days to go before the exciting RAM SLAM T20 Triple Header at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, fans have been urged to get their tickets.

The country’s top domestic cricket stars along with some major international names will be in action during the opening weekend of the RAM SLAM.

Ticket prices range from R50-R100 this weekend for all three games.

Fans can get their tickets from www.ticketpros.co.za or through all Post Net Outlets. There will be no shortage of entertainment or incentives for fans attending RAM SLAM matches. “Among the many exciting developments, Ram Hand to Hand Couriers, along with Cricket SA have introduced family friendly kiddies’ areas at the Triple Headers this year. Fully trained child minders will be on hand to ensure that young and old alike, enjoy their day at the cricket. Every effort has been made to ensure that the festivities of the day extend beyond the boundaries of the pitch,” said Ram Hand to Hand Couriers Joint Managing Director, Graeme Lazarus. Another highlight to look forward to is the Ram Slam Fan Challenge, which is a time based competition designed to test a fan’s ability and incorporates 6 disciplines of the game to do so. Fans are selected from the crowd to participate and the fan that completes the course in the quickest time will be declared the winner of a Galaxy Tab 3 Lite. Other great activities are the Glam Cam activations. If a fan gets spotted wearing red by the Supersport cameras, they could also win Galaxy Tab 3 Lite's. The RAM SLAM T20 Challenge continues to show exciting growth as interest both locally and abroad is intensifying. Earlier this week, it was announced that the franchise has also recruited some of the world’s best T20 players.International signings: Chevrolet Knights – Andre Russell Chevrolet Warriors – Craig Kieswetter Sunfoil Dolphins – Dwayne Bravo bizhub Highveld Lions – Chris Gayle Nashua Cape Cobras – Kieron Pollard The Unlimited Titans – Darren SammyDetails of the Triple Headers: 2 November, Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg; 16 November, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban 30 November, Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein ENDSCATCH A SIX, WIN A MILLION As a first for the Ram Slam T20 Tournament, this year we are giving away one million Rand! The coveted million will be awarded to any attendee who catches a six with one hand! It’s that simple. Should there be more than one winner, the one million Rand prize will shared amongst them. This exciting competition will run from the 2nd of November, to the 13th of December. For all details and T’s and C’s on this incentive, go to www.cricket.co.za.

CAPE TOWN. – The pretenders to the throne made impressions during two practice games at Newlands on Tuesday, but Justin Ontong, the Nashua Cape Cobras captain, warned that the Nashua Cape Cobras’s skills in the shortest format are still a work in progress, and they need to improve by 30 % in order to get off to a flying start in the RAM SLAM T20 competition.

The Cobras kick-start their RAM SLAM T20 Challenge against The Unlimited Titans at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday. Three young players, Pieter Malan, Clyde Fortuin and Yaseen Vallie, underlined their undoubted talent during the T20-practice games on Tuesday. Rory Kleinveldt the all-rounder also showed his mettle. He took two for 16 in four overs in the first practice match to propel Cobras 1 to a 27-run victory. SA Engelbrecht (also two for sixteen) and Kleinveldt were the destroyers-in-chief. Kleinveldt ignited the second match with his 36 off 17 balls with four sixes for the Cobras 2-side. Malan also featured in that match with a composed 60 off 55 balls, including eight fours to power Cobras 2 to 139 for five. Malan, 25-year old former batsman of the South African u.19-team, recently scored an unbeaten 120 in a first-class game for Western Province against South Western Districts. He added an undefeated 148 in a List A-match, also for Province against the Southern Cape-based team. For the record: Cobras 1 chased down that target of 139 for five by reaching 141 for four in 18.5 overs. It was thanks to Vallie’s 49 (35 balls, 3x4, 1x6) and Ontong’s measured 26 off 19 balls. Fortuin, 19-year old former SA u.19-player, contributed 38 off 36 balls with four boundaries. Ontong said although the wicket favoured the bowlers, he would have been happier with scores of 165 to 170, instead of 146 and 139. “Some players got in and managed 30’s, but failed to convert those scores into 70’s and 80’s,” said the Nashua Cape Cobras skipper. “We also missed our lengths a bit and still need to improve the Yorkers,” he added. If he was asked to assess the T20-skills, he might give it seven out of ten. Some hard work needs to be done before the opening match on Sunday, added Ontong.

The Nashua Cape Cobras dominated the first half of the Momentum One Day Cup competition by scoring three bonus-point wins, but the departure of their match-winning spinner Robin Peterson and the groin injury suffered by Stiaan van Zyl will leave the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge finalist searching for some answers.

The domestic showpiece, The RAM SLAM T20 Challenge, starts on Sunday. The Cobras and The Unlimited Titans will meet at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, starting at 14h00. Paul Adams, the Nashua Cape Cobras coach, confirmed that Van Zyl might be out for three to four weeks due to a groin injury. He suffered a grade-2 groin tear while fielding on the boundary during Friday’s Momentum One Day Cup match against The Unlimited Titans. Peterson has been called up by the national squad as a replacement for the left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso. Phangiso suffered a sprained finger and will be side-lined for approximately four to six wees. Peterson finished with 11 wickets at an average of 14.81 for the Cobras in their first five Momentum One Day Cup matches. It included match-winning contributions of five for 25 against the Chevrolet Warriors and two for 30 in a high-scoring match against the bizhub Highveld Lions. One of his greatest challenges would be to replace Peterson for the T20-format, although SA Engelbrecht impressed observers with his ability to absorb pressure during the Champions League Twenty20. Justin Ontong is another spinner who can bowl successfully in the middle period. Adams said two training matches on Tuesday (starting at 10h30 and 14h00 at Newlands) have been scheduled in order to fine-tune and execute game plans. Andrew Puttick, who is nursing a quad injury, might not take the field in those training matches. The left-handed opener has scored 394 runs in five Momentum One Day Cup matches. The Cobras would not want to risk him before the opening match of the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge competition against The Unlimited Titans at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The Cobras featured during the Champions League Twenty20 competition and failed to reach the knockout-phases. Two of their so-called death bowlers, Charl Langeveldt (retired) and Vernon Philander (national team), will not be in action during the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge. Beuran Hendricks is another absentee. He is busy with an extensive rehabilitation program. The left-arm swing bowler captured 28 wickets in the domestic T20-competition last season.

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) has heard with shock of the tragic deaths of two South African sporting icons, former world athletics champion, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain, Senzo Meyiwa, at the weekend.

“This is a very sad time for South African sport,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “Mbulaeni was a wonderful ambassador for athletics both on and off the track. He won gold medals at both the IAAF World Championships and the Indoor Championships as well as the Commonwealth Games and was the No. 1 ranked athlete in his discipline in both 2006 and 2007. “Senzo has been an inspirational leader both of the national soccer team and of Orlando Pirates. This year he has led Bafana Bafana to the top of a tough group that also includes defending champions, Nigeria, in the qualifying rounds for the African Cup of Nations. “On behalf of the CSA family I extend our deepest condolences to the many people who have been deeply affected by this double tragedy.” Castle Lager Test captain, Hashim Amla, and Castle Lager ODI captain, AB de Villiers, paid tribute on behalf of the team.Hashim Amla: “Death is never an easy situation to deal with, especially when the person was held in high esteem and admiration amongst his peers and the soccer-loving South African public. We send our deep-hearted condolences to his family and loved ones, we share in your pain. Let’s also take this time to appreciate Senzo’s young life and achievements, he made a big impact for Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates at an early age and should be remembered for that.”

AB de Villiers: “It’s an incredibly sad day for sport in South Africa. I didn’t know Senzo personally but our team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, knew him reasonably well and speaks fondly of his astute professionalism and talent. South African soccer has lost a leader, skilled player and more importantly a young passionate soul. I hope everyone will pull together during this tough time. On behalf of the Proteas, I’d like to send our deepest and sincerest condolences to his family, friends and team-mates during this tough time.”

THE Sunfoil Dolphins lost their second game of the Momentum One-Day Cup to the weather as their clash with the Nashua Cape Cobras at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

After winning their match against the Lions on Friday, and seeing the Cobras lose to the Titans, the Dolphins would have hoped to close the gap on the competition’s top side ahead of the three-month break in the tournament.

Instead inclement weather saw the two sides share the points, meaning the Cobras will enjoy a five-point lead over the Dolphins when the competition resumes in late January.

THE Unlimited Titans got their Momentum One-Day Cup campaign up and running in the most convincing fashion possible, as they beat the table-topping Nashua Cape Cobras with a bonus point at SuperSport Park on Friday.

The Titans had yet to make an impression on the points table prior to the game, but lifted themselves off the bottom after bowling the Cobras out for 208 and finishing the chase in just 38.3 overs with six wickets to spare.

The manner of the victory would have been just as pleasing to coach Rob Walter as the size of it.

Although the Cobras got off to yet another solid start after they were asked to bat first by the Titans, with Andrew Puttick scoring a fifth straight half-century and sharing in a 71-run stand for the opening wicket with Richard Levi (33), the Titans stuck to their guns and took wickets in clusters as a result.

At 129 for two in the 25th over the Cobras were once again well poised for a big total, but three wickets in 16 balls pegged them back, and a brief revival was stamped out eight overs later.

Ethy Mbhalathi (3 for 58 in 7.1 overs) finished as the highest wicket taker as the Cobras were bowled out in 41.1 overs, but all of the bowlers contributed.

Roelof van der Merwe opened the bowling and recorded figures of 1 for 17 from seven overs, while Marchant de Lange took 2 for 34 in nine.

Sensing the opportunity for a much-needed bonus point, the Titans went about their chase in positive fashion, with all of the batsmen making at least 18.

The key man, however, was 22-year-old Theunis de Bruyn, who showed another glimpse of his vast potential by scoring 60 in 68 balls to set up the chase.

When he was out to Robin Peterson, who took 2 for 37 in his 10 overs, Farhaan Behardien (41 not out from 32 balls) and Mangaliso Mosehle (31 not out) had the freedom to attack the game and ensure that the chase was wrapped up inside the 40-over mark. Michael Owen-Smith